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a16z drops "crypto" from its crypto fund's name, rebranding it a16z Frontier with AI and robotics in scope
Summary
Andreessen Horowitz is renaming its a16z Crypto fund to a16z Frontier and widening it to AI, autonomous machines and other emerging technologies, general partner Chris Dixon said on Thursday, according to CoinDesk and Decrypt.
The firm called it "an expansion" and said "we will continue to invest in crypto and related ventures and advocate for sensible crypto regulation," both outlets reported.
Dixon argued the crypto label matters less now that Wall Street and fintech firms regularly launch products built on blockchains, and said he sees crypto letting AI agents and machines pay each other.
CoinDesk framed the move as part of a wider shift by crypto-focused venture firms, noting that Paradigm, Framework Ventures and Haun Ventures have also broadened into AI and other areas this year.
Key facts
- CoinDesk said Dixon announced the change in a Thursday blog post; Decrypt said it came in an email to a16z newsletter subscribers.
- The firm was an early Coinbase investor and backed Solana and Uniswap, CoinDesk reported.
- Dixon will lead the fund with co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz and general partners Eddy Lazzarin and Guy Wuollet, per CoinDesk and Decrypt.
- CoinDesk reported Paradigm raised $1.2 billion in July for AI, robotics and other tech, Framework Ventures raised $400 million in June, and Haun Ventures raised $1 billion in May.
- Decrypt said Dixon's post gave no size for the renamed fund, and that the latest figure on record is $2.2 billion announced in May.
- Decrypt said a16z reported raising more than $15 billion across its funds in January.